S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) is a key metabolite regulating growth, differentiation and death of hepatocytes. Experimentally, exogenous SAMe has been documented to attenuate hepatocarcinogenesis.
The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of SAMe on proliferation of hepatocytes that are not cancerously transformed. The results have documented the inhibition of the liver regeneration by SAMe that may be mediated by the suppression of liver fat accumulation.
Cell GSH level correlating with the growth rate was not affected by SAMe. Prevention from the decrease in the intracellular content of SAMe, as a factor attenuating regeneration remains to be verified.